PB2567: THE EFFECT OF BLOOD DONATIONS ON IRON DEFICIENCY IN BLOOD DONORS
Authors: Daria Lastochkina, Nikolay Romanenko, Andrey Kasyanov, Galina Grishina
Journal: HemaSphere (2023)

Topic: 29. Iron metabolism, deficiency and overload Background: Anemia in hematology malignant patients is one of the frequent complications of antitumor therapy and its correction requires blood transfusion. Multiple blood donations can deplete the iron store, which leads to the appearance of iron deficiency and sometimes it may cause iron deficiency anemia. Such a situation will contribute to the medical exemption of donors from blood donations, therefore, a decrease in donor potential. Aims: To determine the frequency of iron deficiency among blood donors. Methods: Peripheral blood samples from 64 donors were analyzed with the determination of a hemogram, the study of iron metabolism (serum iron, transferrin, serum ferritin, soluble transferrin receptors). As an additional marker of ferrokinetics, the index was calculated: the ratio of soluble transferrin receptors to the log of ferritin – ferritin index (sTfR/log Fer). The iron deficiency was diagnosed at level of serum ferritin < 30 ng/ml. Results: 64 blood donors aged from 19 to 51 years (Me = 35.5) were analyzed, which were divided into 2 groups, depending on the number of donations. The first group, the main one, included 42 people, they made 1-2 donations per year: 16 (38.1%) men and 26 (61.9%) women, age was 39 years (Me). The control group (n=22) contained of first-time donors and donors without blood donations for a last year: of them there were 10 (45.5%) men and 12 (54.5%) women, Me aged 28 years. The hemoglobin concentration in 2 donors revealed a decrease below the limit for donation (11.4 g/dl, 11.8 g/dl). Number of red blood cells and level of hemoglobin in the groups were not differ significantly and amounted to 13.7 ± 1.46 g/dl and 14.2 ± 1.48 g/dl. In the first group serum ferritin was 23.4 ng/ml (15.0; 59.5), and in the second group - 59.3 ng/ml (33.3; 121.6). Iron deficiency in the main group of donors was detected significantly more often than in the control group – in 23 (54.7%) donors versus 5 (22.7%; p< 0.01) ones. It indicates even 1 or 2 donations per year influence on the risk of iron deficiency. At the same time, iron deficiency was detected in 19 (73%) women of the main group vs. 5 (41.6 %; p < 0.05) – in the control. In men in the main group, iron deficiency was observed in 5 of 16 (31.25%) people, in the control group, none of the 10 donors were identified. The analysis of serum iron levels revealed no statistically significant differences between the main and control groups (19.7 ± 9.13 mсmol/l and 21.7 ± 9.61 mcmol/l, p > 0.05). However, the median ferritin index was 2.6 (1.9; 3.8) in the main and 1.9 (1.5; 2.6) in the control groups (p < 0.01). Also in the main group an increase of sTfR/log Fer (> 2) was observed in 29 (69%) donors, in the control group – only in 10 (45.4%) ones (p < 0.05), these data indicated a higher frequency of iron deficiency. Summary/Conclusion: The frequency of iron deficiency is detected in more than half of donors who regularly donate blood even after 1-2 blood donations per year. These data show the donor unable to make up iron deficiency only by feeding, so some donors need additional prevention by iron supplements. Keywords: Transfusion, Iron deficiency, Donor